Learning and Achieving Through the Arts (LATA)

Summary

Inner-City Arts Learning and Achieving through the Arts (LATA) program provides education in the arts to 7,400 children grades K-8, facing barriers to success in school that stem from poverty, homelessness, and limited English-language skill. The project also offers professional development to participating students' classroom teachers, assuring integration of arts-based learning for improving academic achievement in their schools.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

The 56 Los Angeles Unified School District schools served by Inner-City Arts reflect a combined enrollment of more than 30,000; 81% of the students have limited English proficiency; 50% of these middle school students will not graduate high school without the kind of help and encouragement that they find at Inner-City Arts. Overwhelmingly, families live at or below poverty level and 100% of the children who will be enrolled in LATA are underserved and at-risk.

How will this project solve this problem?

By providing a non-school resource for school-day instruction that develops creativity while enhancing a child's ability to achieve in school, LATA represents a unique, community-based, collaborative model that responds to the extreme lack of resources for meeting the educational needs of inner-city children. Through art-making, young learners find ready access to multiple learning "intelligences" - assess to motor and problem-solving activities that occur in the process of making art.

Potential Long Term Impact

LATA will provide arts learning sessions to 7,400 Grade K-8 English Learners from under-performing public schools that contribute to improving confidence and self-esteem among students.After participation in LATA, 50% of students will demonstrate improved oral and written language skills demonstrated by growth in characteristics of English Language Development Levels (ELD's). Students, teachers, and parents will gain an improved sense of school and classroom community.

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